A BARNSLEY farm is celebrating 25 years in the tourism industry with a plan designed to make it the biggest and best farm park in the UK.
When farmer, Roger Nicholson took his idea of opening his struggling, debt laden farm to the public, his bank manager's response was brief and to the point. "Mr Nicholson, face reality, you've never been able to support your wife and family. I suggest you sell up while you still have something to sell."
However, Roger decided to fight for his family's future and found another bank to back the venture.
Stage two of a £3.5 million project at Cannon Hall Farm is now underway.
The first stage was a 50,000 sq ft, £1.5 million farmyard that opened in July last year.
That is now being following by the construction of an indoor play concept, classrooms and a small animal handling zone. This along with a refit of the farm shop and the fitting of an eco-friendly biomass boiler will cost around £2m.
